Got a router - but connection keeps dropping!

alex_ncfc · 02-01-2009, 22:25

Hi all, first time poster here. Happy new year to you all :P

Anyway I've recently moved into a flat with my mate and we have Virgin Media broadband (not sure which speed but anyway..)

As we both have laptops, we needed to get a wireless router because otherwise we obviously wouldn't be able to use the net at the same time. So I got a belkin, which (when it works) does the job very well.

But occasionally the connection will just drop completely - and it's happened a LOT more this past week or so. The router seems to be set up fine, but when the connection goes, either the networking icon in the system tray in Vista will lose it's globe (as in still meaning we have 'local' access) or will disconnect completely. In either case I have to either reset the connection through the router config, or actually unplug the router for a minute or so and restart.

But this is getting seriously annoying, as like I say it's happening a lot lately. I'm new to cable/virgin, but I have set up routers many times before. Is there something I might be missing?

Any advice would be great.

Cheers

EssDee · 02-01-2009, 23:02

to the forums (and a Happy New Year too!).

Try changing the wireless channel first. You may be getting interference/conflict from other wireless devices nearby. Maybe it has got worse in the past week as Xmas presents got switched on??

Cheers

alex_ncfc · 02-01-2009, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by EssDee

to the forums (and a Happy New Year too!).

Try changing the wireless channel first. You may be getting interference/conflict from other wireless devices nearby. Maybe it has got worse in the past week as Xmas presents got switched on??

Cheers

Thanks for the reply. The channel is currently set to "Auto (current channel 13)" How does auto go about choosing a channel then and if I change it, what do I change it to?

Thanks

EssDee · 03-01-2009, 00:09

I think it chooses what is the best channel to broadcast on in terms of nearby interference, etc. If interference is detected later the router may change channels, causing the disconnect. I would set it to something else (eg 11) and see how that goes. You may need some trial and error though to get the best setting.

What model is the router?

Cheers

alex_ncfc · 03-01-2009, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by EssDee

I think it chooses what is the best channel to broadcast on in terms of nearby interference, etc. If interference is detected later the router may change channels, causing the disconnect. I would set it to something else (eg 11) and see how that goes. You may need some trial and error though to get the best setting.

What model is the router?

Cheers

The model is a Belkin - F5D7230-4 Wireless G Router.

That's an idea, I'll try and give it a go - anything to avoid these random disconnects!

snowey · 03-01-2009, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_ncfc

The model is a Belkin - F5D7230-4 Wireless G Router.

That's an idea, I'll try and give it a go - anything to avoid these random disconnects!

Hi, I had one of these, same problem, took it back, and changed it for a Netgear, problem sorted. Virgin, recommends, the Netgear, but I believe there is a fix, for the Belkin??. I would check, with Virgin.

alex_ncfc · 04-01-2009, 00:41

Me again - I changed the channel (to 11) - and I thought all was well as all day the connection has seemed stable and fast with no constant MSN signouts (or any at all)

But when my flatmate and myself were just on the net, and I was downloading a large file, the connection dropped (saying we had local access only) - I went into the router config and it said there was no internet connection. I reset the router, the connection came back - but now MSN insists on signing me out every few mins. This is winding me up!

EssDee · 04-01-2009, 01:01

Are you using DHCP on the router? If so, try assigning static IP addresses on your laptops. I've seen reports on the web that this has resolved the disconnects for some people with this router.